Bushra Zulfiqar is the regional director Asia at Terre des Hommes Netherlands. She has more than two decades of experience in international development and human rights, working at both the policymaking and implementation levels in Asia and globally. Her expertise includes strategic leadership, socio-economic development for marginalized communities and sustainable development. She recently spoke with The Diplomat about the issue of child trafficking in Asia.

What is the current landscape of child trafficking in Asia?

Child trafficking in Asia remains a profound challenge, one that truly demands our urgent and collective attention. We observe that deep-seated vulnerabilities, stemming from poverty, systemic gender inequality, and a lack of access to education, are pervasive drivers of child trafficking in Asia. This tragic reality is acutely visible across the countries in Asia, where communities, particularly women and children, are disproportionately exposed to exploitation. Child trafficking manifests in various forms, including commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) – which encompasses sex trafficking, sex tourism, child sexual abuse materials and early marriage – as well as forced labor and involuntary domestic service. The hidden nature of this crime makes accurate quantification difficult due to significant underreporting.

The UNODC Global Report 2024 reveals a 25 percent increase in detected trafficking victims globally comp